Pakistani forces kill 3 Taliban commanders, 27 militants
0 
Three top leaders of Pakistani Taliban were among 30 militants killed by the security forces in a tribal region, local TV channels reported on Friday.
Maulvi Faqir Muhammad, the deputy chief of Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP), was among those killed in Mohmand tribal agency, the private Geo News reported.
Maulvi Faqir was based in Bajaur tribal area and is believed to have moved to Mohmand agency after the security forces took control of Bajaur near the Afghan border.
There is no official confirmation of the report and no reaction from TTP.
Qari Zia-ur-Rehman, who was leading militants in Bajaur in fight against the security forces, was also killed in the operation in Pandiali area of Mohmand agency, according to reports.
Both Maulvi Faqir and Qari Zia were wanted by the Pakistani government.
Another senior TTP commander Fateh was also reported killed in the operation, Geo reported while quoting sources as saying.
Aaj TV reported that four Uzbek militants were also killed in the operation.
If the report is confirmed it would be a serious blow to Pakistani Taliban and would be considered a big success for the security forces.
The TTP former chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a U.S drone strike in South Waziristan tribal region in August last year.
There is still confusion over the fate of Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, as the Interior Minister Rehman Malik said he was also killed in U.S strike in mid-January. Taliban have denied Malik's claim.
On Thursday, Pakistan security forces had also killed 30 militants in Mohmand agency.
The clash took place after the militants attacked a security check post at Safi area of Mohmand agency. The security forces returned fire and killed 30 militants while one soldier also lost life.
Mohmand agency is situated between the Bajaur tribal region and Peshawar, the capital city of North West Frontier Province. Officials believed that militants have moved from Bajaur to Mohmand.
In 2009, the local tribal Lashkar or militia had arrested the central spokesman of Pakistani Taliban Maulvi Omar who had taken shelter in the Mohmand region.
